Flexible metallic-covered tubing.



No. 762,954. PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904. T. SMITH.

FLEXIBLE METALLIC COVERED TUBING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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Patented June 21, 1904.

PATENT OEEicE.

THEODORE SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLEXIBLE METALLIC-COVERED TUBING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,954, dated June 21,1904.

Application filed May 28, 1903.

To ml whmrt it may concern.

Be it known that I, THEODORE SMITH, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Armor forTubing and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in armor fortubing and the like; and its object is to produce a device which can beused as an armor for rubber tubing in connection, for instance, withdrop-lights or cigar-lighters, but which can be used, if desired, inother connections.

To these and certain minor ends my invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, which are clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in the following specification.

In the aforesaid drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a cigar-lighter,showing a section provided with my improved armor in use. Fig. 2 is asection in the line 2 9. of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the armor,a certain portion being cut away to show the interior construction, thetube being elongated to its fullest extent. Fig. 4 is an elevation ofthe inner gas-conducting tube and the nipples by which it is secured inplace. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the nipples removed from thedevice, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of the other nipple.

Referring now to the drawings, A is the outer casing of my improvedarmor, which is preferably of woven-wire fabric, as shown in thedrawings. The strands of the preferred fabric are spirally disposed andof a rather steep pitch. Within this casing A is a lining B, preferablyof coiled wire, these two casings together forming an armor which issubstantially non-elastic. Each of the two parts of the casing alone isextremely elastic; but the outer one can only stretch by decreasing itsdiameter, while the inner one stretches without substantiallydecreasingits diameter. Inasmuch as the lining B tightly fits the interior of thewoven-wire casing A, it is impossible for the outer casing to decreaseits diameter to any extent, and therefore it cannot stretch. The twotogether, therefore, are substantially SerialNo. 159,087. (No model.)

inelastic,but evidentlyhighlyilexiblc. Thearmor in the structure hereinshown is provided at its ends with cylindrical tips O O, preferablysoldered to both layers of the armor and adapted to receive nipples DI). As far as any essential features are concerned the two nipples aresimilar; but the nipple D is shown as provided with an ornamental head,which is not present on the nipple D. Each nipple has a portion (Z,adapted to enter the countersunk portion of the tips O, and an elongatedperforated point (Z, the purpose of which will presently be apparent.Both nipples are screw-threaded, the nipple I) being adapted to bescrewed upon the gas pipe or fixture, while the nipple I) may be used toreceive the tubef of the cigar-lighter proper, F, as shown in thedrawings. Tapped radial perforations are provided in each nipple, bywhich it can be held fixedly in place in the tip by screws 0 passingthrough suitable perforations in the tips O and into the nipples.

E is a rubber tube which lies within the metallic armor and is slippedover the points (Z (Z on the two nipples and tightly [it the same. Therubber tube E is of such length that when in its normal condition it isas long or slightly longer than the distance between the enlargedportions (Z (Z of the nipples when in place with the armor stretched asmuch as it can be.

In assembling the entire structure one end of the rubber tube is fittedon one of the nipples, and the tube is then passed through thearmor-tube. The second nipple is then inserted in the rubber tube andpushed into place in the corresponding tip (1, the two nipples beingsecured in position by the screws c. The rubber tube is then kept undercontinuous compression and has no tendency what ever to be forced orpulled off the nipples.

The advantages of this structure will be quite obvious. Thediszulvantages of the ordinary rubber tubing or woven tubing forconducting gas are well known. Rubber, after a comparatively short spaceof time, deteriorates with the ordinary rough handling and permits thegas to escape. The so-callcd flexible metallic tubing also deterioratesquickly and is very expensive, and when once worn out it must beentirely replaced, which is nat- 'urally a matter of some expense.

My improved tubing has all the advantages of both forms of tubing. Thismetallic armor is practically indestructible, and it is so constructedthat it cannot be bent sharply to permit any sharp bends in the rubbertube which would strain the same. Furthermore, it is so much shorterthan is the rubber tube that no longitudinal strain can fall upon thesame. Consequently rubber tubing, which is admittedly the best and mostefiective flexible conductor for gas when not exposed to rough handling,is perfectly protected from all injurious influences, and consequentlyattains its maximum life. The armor does not have to be made gas-tightat all, and so can be used after metallic tubing would have begun toleak. IVhen the rubber tube is worn out, however, as it must be sooneror later, another section of tubing can be put in its place at a costofa few cents and with no trouble but the removal and replacing of twosmall screws.

It will be evident that my improved armor can be used with rubber tubewithin it, as in the structure herein illustrated and described, or itcan be used as a covering for any other flexible devices as, forinstance, electric cord and I therefore do not intend to limit myself toits use in the particular connection herein set forth. It will beevident also that considerable variation in the construction of 1 thearmor is possible, and I therefore do not intend to limit myself to thisparticular form herein set forth.

' I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent* 1. A tubulararmor consisting of an outer layer which decreases its diameter whenlongitudinally elongated, and a coiled inner layer and an inner layercomprising a coil of a rigid material.

2. A tubular armor consisting of an outer layer which decreases itsdiameter when longitudinally elongated, and an inner layer of coiledwire.

3. A tubular armor consisting of an outer layer of woven-wire fabricwith spirally-disposed strands, and an inner layer of coiled wire.

4. A tubular armor, consisting of two elastic layers, the outer of whichcontracts its diameter more when stretched than does the inner one.-

In witness whereof I have signed the above application for LettersPatent, at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this20th day of May, A. D. 1903.

THEODORE SMITH.

I/Vitnesses:

CHAS. O. SHERVEY, RUssELL TILES.

